JP2023080952A - tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a tape cassette capable of further certainly peeling an ink ribbon while ensuring a peeling distance.SOLUTION: After printing, an ink ribbon 9 is separated from a printing tape 8 by a tip end part 581 of a guiding wall 58. A tip end part 531 is located behind a virtual line V3 connecting a nip part N2 and a contacting part T1. The printing tape 8 is kept in a state contacting with the ink ribbon 9 while being carried from the nip part N2 to the contacting part T1, so that a peeling distance is ensured. The printing tape 8 is pressed in front of a virtual line V2 connecting the contacting part T1 and the nip part N1 by the tip end part 531 of a partition wall 53. Therefore, force with which the printing tape 8 presses the ink ribbon 9 against the tip end part 531 is eased at the contacting part T1, thereby smoothly peeling the ink ribbon 9 from the printing tape 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a tape cassette containing a print-receiving member.

The tape cassette described in Patent Document 1 sandwiches a film tape and an ink ribbon between a platen roller and a thermal head, and prints characters and the like on the film tape by thermal transfer. The film tape is conveyed toward the tape exit by cooperation between the tape feed roller and the movable conveying roller. A guide wall is provided between the platen roller and the movable transport roller to guide the ink ribbon to the ribbon take-up spool. The guide wall presses the end against the ink ribbon to separate the ink ribbon from the film tape.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-11399

The ribbon take-up spool is rotationally driven to pull and take up the ink ribbon, so that the ink ribbon in contact with the end of the guide wall is peeled off from the film tape. However, if the frictional force generated by the film tape pressing the ink ribbon against the end of the guide wall is greater than the force of the ribbon take-up spool pulling the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon may not be sufficiently separated from the film tape. may be conveyed, causing a jam near the end of the guide wall. If the force with which the ribbon take-up spool pulls the ink ribbon is increased, the ink ribbon is peeled off from the film tape before the characters transferred from the ink ribbon are fixed to the film tape. There was a possibility that the distance could not be secured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cassette capable of more reliably separating an ink ribbon while ensuring a sufficient separation distance.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a cassette case having a bottom wall and side walls intersecting the bottom wall on one side in a first direction; a wound tape roll; a ribbon roll housed in the cassette case and wound with an ink ribbon used for printing on the printing tape; and a ribbon roll housed in the cassette case and wound with the ink ribbon. a ribbon take-up spool to be taken, a recess formed in a portion of the side wall having an open portion and recessed on the other side in the first direction, and a penetrating recess penetrating the cassette case in the vertical direction; and a second wall portion facing the first wall portion and extending upward from the bottom wall. Extending from an edge portion on one side of the second direction intersecting the vertical direction to the other side of the second direction, and at an end portion on the one side of the second direction, a portion between the first wall portion and the second wall portion an arm portion having a discharge port for discharging the printing tape and the ink ribbon conveyed between; a roller that is exposed on one side of the cassette case in the first direction and guides the printing tape that is ejected from the discharge port and comes into contact with the exposed portion of the outer peripheral surface toward the one side of the cassette case in the second direction; A first tip protruding toward one side in the first direction is provided at a position between the discharge port of the arm portion and the roller in the transport path of the printing tape, and the second wall portion and the penetrating portion are provided. positioned on a first imaginary line connecting a connection portion with a recess and an exposed portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roller or on one side of the first imaginary line in the first direction, along the conveying path from the discharge port; a first protrusion that branches off the discharged ink ribbon from the conveying path at the first tip and guides it to a winding path toward the ribbon winding spool; and the first protrusion in the second direction. A second tip is provided so as to protrude toward one side in the first direction at a position between the roller and the exposed portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roller and the first tip of the first projection. a second protrusion positioned on one side in the first direction of a second imaginary line connecting the positions and guiding the printing tape ejected from the ejection port to the roller via the second leading end; A tape cassette is provided comprising:

The first tip of the first protrusion is arranged on the first imaginary line along which the printing tape and the ink ribbon can be conveyed during printing or on one side in the first direction, and the first protrusion conveys the printing tape and the ink ribbon in the first direction. By adopting the configuration of pressing in one direction to one side, the tape cassette reliably separates the ink ribbon from the printing tape by the first tip portion. Then, the second tip of the second protrusion is arranged on one side in the first direction with respect to the second imaginary line on the downstream side of the position of the first tip, and the printing tape is pressed on one side in the first direction. The configuration positions the printing tape slightly away from the ink ribbon to reduce the force with which the printing tape presses the ink ribbon against the first tip. As a result, the tape cassette can reduce the frictional force generated between the ink ribbon and the first tip when the printing tape presses the ink ribbon against the first protrusion. Therefore, after the characters, etc. are transferred from the ink ribbon to the printing tape, the printing tape and the ink ribbon can reach the first protrusion without being forcibly separated. Therefore, the tape cassette can more reliably separate the ink ribbon while ensuring the separation distance.

The tape cassette of this aspect is attachable to and detachable from a tape printer provided with a head holder having a print head, and the through recess is inserted into the head holder when the tape cassette is attached to the tape printer. and the second tip of the second protrusion corresponds to the position of the print head and the position of the first tip of the first protrusion when the head holder is inserted into the through recess. may be positioned on the other side in the first direction from a third virtual line connecting By defining the position of the second tip of the second projection located on the one side in the first direction from the second virtual line to the other side in the first direction from the third virtual line, the tape cassette is positioned on the other side in the first direction with respect to the third virtual line. To regulate so that a projection does not largely press a printing tape to one side in a first direction. As a result, since the printing tape does not largely separate from the ink ribbon on the upstream side of the conveying path from the first protrusion, the tape cassette secures an appropriate peeling distance, and the ink ribbon can be peeled off more reliably. can be done.

The second protrusion of this aspect extends upward from the bottom wall and has a rib shape that forms the winding path between itself and the first protrusion. It may be a roller member having an axis. Since the second projection forms a winding path together with the first projection, the ink ribbon can be guided to the ribbon winding spool. Since the second projection is rib-shaped, it can be formed integrally with the bottom wall. Further, since the second tip portion is a roller member, the frictional force in conveying the printing tape is reduced. Therefore, since the tape cassette can smoothly transport the printing tape, the ink ribbon can be peeled off more reliably while ensuring the peeling distance.

The second protrusion of this aspect may be a biasing member that is biased toward one side in the first direction and presses the printing tape. Since the second protrusion is a biasing member, the biasing force maintains the position of the printing tape on the conveying path at a predetermined position. When the tensile force applied to the printing tape increases, the elasticity of the printing tape allows temporary displacement of the printing tape. can be done. Therefore, since the tape cassette can smoothly transport the printing tape, the ink ribbon can be peeled off more reliably while ensuring the peeling distance.

The tape cassette of this aspect is attachable to and detachable from a tape printer provided with a head holder having a print head, and the through recess is inserted into the head holder when the tape cassette is attached to the tape printer. in the transport path of the printing tape, at a position between the position of the print head when the head holder is inserted into the through recess and the first tip of the first projection , a third tip protruding toward the other side of the first direction, and abutting on the printing tape conveyed between the discharge port and the second tip of the second projection; A third protrusion may be provided for restricting movement of the printing tape to one side in the first direction. The ink ribbon is peeled from the printing tape at the position of the first protrusion. On the other hand, the printing tape is pressed away from the ink ribbon to one side in the first direction by the second protrusion. Therefore, the third protrusion prevents the printing tape from being too far away from the ink ribbon to one side in the first direction at the third leading end. The third tip portion is located closer to the discharge port than the first tip portion of the first protrusion, that is, on the upstream side of the conveying path. As a result, the tape cassette secures the peeling distance necessary for the characters transferred from the ink ribbon to be fixed on the printing tape by the distance from the position of the print head to the third leading edge in the conveying path. , the ink ribbon can be peeled off more reliably.

The third protrusion of this aspect may be a rib-like member extending upward from the bottom wall, and the third tip may be a roller member having an axis extending in the vertical direction. Since the third protrusion is rib-shaped, it can be formed integrally with the bottom wall. Also, since the third tip portion is a roller member, the frictional force in conveying the printing tape is reduced. Therefore, since the tape cassette can smoothly transport the printing tape, the ink ribbon can be peeled off more reliably while ensuring the peeling distance.

The third protrusion of this aspect may be a biasing member that is biased toward the other side in the first direction and presses the printing tape. Since the third protrusion is a biasing member, the biasing force maintains the position of the printing tape on the conveying path at a predetermined position. When the tensile force applied to the printing tape increases, the elasticity allows temporary displacement of the printing tape. can be done. Therefore, since the tape cassette can smoothly transport the printing tape, the ink ribbon can be peeled off more reliably while ensuring the peeling distance.

The first protrusion of this aspect may be a rib-like member extending upward from the bottom wall, and the first tip may be a roller member having an axis extending in the vertical direction. Since the first protrusion is rib-shaped, it can be formed integrally with the bottom wall. Further, since the first tip portion is a roller member, the frictional force in conveying the ink ribbon sandwiched between the printing tape and the first tip portion of the first protrusion is reduced. Therefore, the tape cassette can smoothly peel the ink ribbon from the printing tape while ensuring the peeling distance.

The first protrusion of this aspect may be a biasing member that is biased toward one side in the first direction and presses the ink ribbon and the printing tape. Since the first protrusion is a biasing member, the biasing force maintains the position of the printing tape and the ink ribbon on the transport path at a predetermined position. When the tensile force applied to the ink ribbon increases, the elasticity allows the ink ribbon to be detached from the printing tape while permitting temporary positional displacement of the ink ribbon. It is possible to reduce the frictional force in conveying the ink ribbon sandwiched between the first tip of the one protrusion. Therefore, the tape cassette can smoothly peel the ink ribbon from the printing tape while ensuring the peeling distance.

1 is a perspective view of the tape printer 1 with a cassette cover 5 opened; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tape cassette 30 and a mounting portion 6; FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mounting section 6 with the tape cassette 30 mounted and the platen holder 12 at the standby position. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an upper case 311 and a lower case 312 of the cassette case 31; FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a circle W1 indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mounting section 6 with the tape cassette 30 mounted and the platen holder 12 at the printing position; FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a circle W2 indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a regulation guide portion 61; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a roller unit 50; FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a regulation guide portion 61; FIG.

An embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The drawings to be referred to are used to explain the technical features that can be employed by the present invention, and the configuration, control, etc. of the devices described are not meant to be limited to them, but are merely illustrative examples. be.

Below, the lower left side, upper right side, lower right side, upper left side, upper side, and lower side of FIG. The lower right side, the upper left side, the upper right side, the lower left side, the upper side, and the lower side in FIG.

The tape cassette 30 of this embodiment can be mounted on the tape printer 1 . The tape printer 1 is a general-purpose printer that can use various tape cassettes such as thermal type, laminate type, and receptor type. A thermal type tape cassette includes a thermal paper tape. A laminate type tape cassette includes a double-sided adhesive tape, a film tape, and an ink ribbon. The tape cassette 30 is of receptor type and has a printing tape 8 and an ink ribbon 9 . The tape printer 1 prints by transferring the ink of the ink ribbon 9 to the printing tape 8 by heating.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tape printer 1 has a box-shaped body cover 2 . An input section 3 is provided on the front portion of the upper surface of the main body cover 2 . The tape printer 1 receives input of various information and operations such as power on/off through the input unit 3 . A display unit 4 is provided behind the input unit 3 . The display unit 4 can display various types of input information. A cassette cover 5 is attached to the rear side of the display portion 4 in the main body cover 2 . The cassette cover 5 covers the mounting portion 6 to which the tape cassette 30 is detachable from the upper side so as to be openable and closable. A user opens and closes the cassette cover 5 when replacing the tape cassette 30 . A discharge port 7 is provided on the left side of the body cover 2 . The printed printing tape 8 is ejected from the tape printer 1 through the ejection port 7 .

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mounting portion 6 has a shape corresponding to the tape cassette 30 and is recessed downward from the upper surface of the body cover 2 . A tape cassette 30 is detachably attached to the attachment portion 6 . A head holder 19 is provided in the front portion of the mounting portion 6 . The head holder 19 is plate-shaped and extends vertically and horizontally. When the tape cassette 30 is attached to the attachment portion 6 , the head holder 19 is inserted into the head insertion portion 39 of the tape cassette 30 . A thermal head 10 is provided on the front surface of the head holder 19 . A thermal head 10 includes a plurality of heating elements 11 . A plurality of heating elements 11 are arranged in a row in the vertical direction. The thermal head 10 heats the ink ribbon 9 exposed from an arm opening 341 to be described later with the tape cassette 30 attached to the attachment portion 6 by a plurality of heating elements 11 .

A conveying motor 95 is arranged outside the mounting portion 6 (on the upper right side in FIG. 2). The transport motor 95 is a stepping motor. The conveying motor 95 rotates the tape driving shaft 17 and the ribbon winding shaft 18 via a plurality of gears that are connected. The tape drive shaft 17 is erected upward at the left front portion of the mounting portion 6 and is rotatable. The tape drive shaft 17 is a shaft that can be attached to and detached from a feed roller 56, which will be described later. The print tape 8 is transported by rotating the tape drive shaft 17 . The ribbon winding shaft 18 is erected upward at a substantially central position of the mounting portion 6 and is rotatable. The ribbon winding shaft 18 is a shaft that can be attached to and detached from a ribbon winding spool 22, which will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 3, a cutting mechanism 16 is provided on the left side of the tape driving shaft 17. As shown in FIG. The cutting mechanism 16 cuts the printing tape 8 by driving a cutting motor (not shown). A platen holder 12 is provided in front of the head holder 19 . The platen holder 12 has an arm shape and is supported by a support shaft 121 so as to be able to swing around a vertical axis. A support shaft 121 is provided at the right end of the platen holder 12 .

A platen roller 15 and a conveying roller 14 are rotatably supported on the tip side of the platen holder 12 . As the platen holder 12 swings, the platen roller 15 can move toward and away from the thermal head 10 . The transport roller 14 is provided on the left side of the platen roller 15 and can move toward and away from the feed roller 56 as the platen holder 12 swings.

In this embodiment, when the cassette cover 5 is opened, the platen holder 12 moves toward the standby position (the position shown in FIG. 3), and when the cassette cover 5 is closed, the platen holder 12 moves to the printing position ( 6). At the standby position, the platen holder 12 moves away from the mounting portion 6 . Therefore, the user can attach/detach the tape cassette 30 to/from the attachment portion 6 . At the printing position, the platen holder 12 moves toward the mounting section 6 . Therefore, when the tape cassette 30 is attached to the attachment portion 6 , the platen roller 15 presses the print tape 8 and the ink ribbon 9 against the thermal head 10 , and the transport roller 14 presses the print tape 8 against the feed roller 56 . .

The platen roller 15 is rotationally driven together with the tape drive shaft 17 by a conveying motor 95 . The platen roller 15 has a plurality of gears (not shown) so that the rotation speed of the platen roller 15 is lower than the rotation speed of the tape drive shaft 17 (feed roller 56) in order to suppress the slack of the printing tape 8 due to transportation. It is connected to the conveying motor 95 via.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the tape cassette 30 has a cassette case 31. As shown in FIG. The cassette case 31 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is configured by combining an upper case 311 and a lower case 312 . The upper case 311 is a box-shaped body that includes an upper wall 305 forming the upper surface of the cassette case 31 and opens downward. The lower case 312 is a box-shaped body that includes a bottom wall 306 that forms the bottom surface of the cassette case 31 and opens upward. The upper case 311 is fixed on top of the lower case 312 .

A support tube 65 for rotatably supporting the tape spool 21 mounted in the cassette case 31 is provided at the left rear portion of the cassette case 31 . The support cylinder 65 protrudes upward from the bottom wall 306 of the lower case 312 in a cylindrical shape. The printing tape 8 is wound around the tape spool 21 . A supply source of the printing tape 8 that is formed by winding the printing tape 8 around the tape spool 21 is called a tape roll 40 .

A ribbon boss 67 that rotatably supports the ribbon spool 23 mounted in the cassette case 31 is provided on the right front portion of the cassette case 31 . The ribbon boss 67 protrudes upward from the bottom wall 306 of the lower case 312 . An ink ribbon 9 is wound around the ribbon spool 23 . A supply source of the ink ribbon 9 formed by winding the ink ribbon 9 around the ribbon spool 23 is called a ribbon roll 41 .

A support hole 66 for rotatably supporting the ribbon take-up spool 22 mounted in the cassette case 31 is provided between the ribbon boss 67 and the support tube 65 at the approximate center of the cassette case 31 . The support hole 66 vertically penetrates the cassette case 31 . A ribbon winding shaft 18 is inserted into the ribbon winding spool 22 . The ribbon take-up spool 22 rotates as the ribbon take-up shaft 18 is driven to rotate, pulls out the ink ribbon 9 from the ribbon roll 41 and takes up the ink ribbon 9 .

A support hole 68 for rotatably supporting the feed roller 56 is provided in the left front corner of the cassette case 31 . Support hole 68 includes an opening 68 A provided in top wall 305 and an opening 68 B provided in bottom wall 306 . The openings 68A and 68B are through holes provided at positions corresponding to the cassette case 31 in the vertical direction. The feed roller 56 is cylindrical and extends vertically. The support holes 68 support the top and bottom ends of the feed roller 56 . A front end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller 56 is exposed forward from the cassette case 31 . The tape drive shaft 17 is inserted inside the feed roller 56 with the tape cassette 30 attached to the attachment portion 6 . The feed roller 56 rotates as the tape drive shaft 17 rotates, and cooperates with the transport roller 14 to eject the print tape 8 from the cassette case 31 .

A roller shaft 69 that rotatably supports a path roller 69A, which is a cylindrical rotating body, is provided at the right front corner of the cassette case 31 . The roller shaft 69 protrudes upward from the bottom wall 306 of the lower case 312 . A path through which the print tape 8 is pulled out from the tape roll 40 in the cassette case 31 and ejected to the outside of the cassette case 31 via an ejection guide portion 49, which will be described later, is called a transport path. The path roller 69A defines the transport path of the printing tape 8 and contacts the printing tape 8 from the left side.

The front wall 307 of the cassette case 31 is provided with a semicircular recess 84 recessed rearward in a substantially semicircular shape in a plan view. The semicircular concave portion 84 is formed along the vertical direction of the cassette case 31 . The semicircular concave portion 84 is a relief portion for avoiding interference with the support shaft 121 of the platen holder 12 when the tape cassette 30 is mounted on the mounting portion 6 .

An arm portion 34 is provided on the front surface of the cassette case 31 . The arm portion 34 extends from the right front portion of the cassette case 31 to the left front portion. A portion of the front wall 307 of the cassette case 31 that extends to the left from the semicircular recess 84 is an arm front wall 35 . The arm front wall 35 is configured by combining an upper arm front wall 35A provided on the upper case 311 and a lower arm front wall 35B provided on the lower case 312 .

An arm rear wall 37 , which is the rear wall of the arm portion 34 , is configured by combining an upper arm rear wall 37 A provided on the upper case 311 and a lower arm rear wall 37 B provided on the lower case 312 . An arm opening 341 is provided between the left end of the arm front wall 35 and the left end of the arm rear wall 37 . The arm opening 341 is formed in a slit shape extending in the vertical direction.

Between the lower arm front wall 35B and the lower arm rear wall 37B of the lower case 312, a regulation wall 33, which is a wall portion extending upward from the bottom wall 306, is provided. A path through which the ink ribbon 9 is pulled out from the ribbon roll 41 and wound on the ribbon winding spool 22 in the cassette case 31 is called a winding path. The conveying path of the printing tape 8 and the winding path of the ink ribbon 9 both pass through the arm portion 34 toward the arm opening portion 341 . Within the arm portion 34 , the regulation wall 33 defines a conveying path for the print tape 8 between itself and the arm front wall 35 , and defines a winding path for the ink ribbon 9 between itself and the arm rear wall 37 .

A peripheral wall extending rearward from the right end of the arm rear wall 37 and parallel to the arm rear wall 37 is a head peripheral wall 36 . The head peripheral wall 36 is configured by combining an upper head peripheral wall 36A provided on the upper case 311 and a lower head peripheral wall 36B provided on the lower case 312. As shown in FIG.

The head insertion portion 39 is a substantially rectangular space defined by the arm rear wall 37 and the head peripheral wall 36 in plan view. The head insertion portion 39 penetrates the tape cassette 30 in the vertical direction and has a concave shape recessed rearward with respect to the arm rear wall 37 . The front wall 307 of the cassette case 31 has an open portion 77 on the left side of the arm opening 341 of the arm portion 34 . The head insertion portion 39 is also connected to the outside on the front side of the tape cassette 30 via the open portion 77 . The head holder 19 is inserted into the head insertion portion 39 while the tape cassette 30 is mounted in the mounting portion 6 .

A restriction guide portion 61 is provided on the left side of the head insertion portion 39 . The regulation guide portion 61 is positioned between the arm opening portion 341 and the feed roller 56 in the left-right direction. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the regulation guide portion 61 has regulation members 361 and 362 , a guide wall 58 and a separation wall 53 . The regulating member 361 is a plate-like body extending downward from the upper wall 305 . The regulating member 362 is a plate-like body extending upward from the bottom wall 306 toward the regulating member 361 . The regulating members 361 and 362 face each other in the vertical direction and are positioned in front of the guide wall 58 . The regulating members 361 and 362 are located on the transport path of the printing tape 8, and regulate the forward movement of the printing tape 8 ejected from the arm opening 341 of the arm portion 34 while ejecting the printing tape 8 from the cassette case 31. Guide to the guide section 49 .

The guide wall 58 is a wall portion extending in the front-rear direction on the left side of the head insertion portion 39 in the lower head peripheral wall 36B. The guide wall 58 is formed in the shape of a rib protruding upward from the bottom wall 306 of the lower case 312 . A tip portion 581 on the front side of the guide wall 58 has a semicircular cross section in the horizontal direction and protrudes forward in a plan view. The leading end portion 581 defines a winding path for the ink ribbon 9 ejected from the arm opening 341 so as to follow the guide wall 58 toward the rear. Further, the tip portion 581 separates the ink ribbon 9 from the printing tape 8 during printing. The winding path is defined by the rear tip portion 582 of the guide wall 58 so as to be a path from the rear to the right. The ink ribbon 9 that has passed through the tip portion 582 is taken up by the ribbon take-up spool 22 via a take-up path passing through the rear side of the head peripheral wall 36 .

Here, when the platen holder 12 is at the printing position, the gap between the feed roller 56 and the transport roller 14 is defined as a nip portion N1. A connection portion between the arm rear wall 37 of the arm portion 34 and the head peripheral wall 36 of the head insertion portion 39 is defined as a connection portion C1 (see FIG. 3). An imaginary straight line connecting the nip portion N1 and the connecting portion C1 in plan view is assumed to be an imaginary line V1. In this case, the tip portion 581 of the guide wall 58 is located forward of the imaginary line V1. Note that the tip portion 581 may be configured so that the most forward portion of the portions that come into contact with the ink ribbon 9 is positioned forward of the imaginary line V1.

The isolation wall 53 is erected on the left side of the guide wall 58 . The separation wall 53 is provided between the guide wall 58 and the feed roller 56 in the left-right direction, and is formed in the shape of a rib that protrudes upward from the bottom wall 306 of the lower case 312 . The isolation wall 53 has a shape that draws a gentle arc in the front-rear direction of the cassette case 31 along a part of the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller 56 in a plan view. The left side surface of the isolation wall 53 is formed in a sawtooth shape in a plan view.

A tip portion 531 on the lower side of the isolation wall 53 has a semicircular horizontal cross section and protrudes leftward and downward in a plan view. The leading end portion 531 is provided at a position where it abuts on the printing tape 8 that is conveyed to the discharge guiding portion 49 through the regulation guide portion 61 when the platen holder 12 is in the printing position, and defines the conveying path of the printing tape 8. . Here, the contact portion T1 is the frontmost portion of the tip portion 581 of the guide wall 58 that contacts the ink ribbon 9 . A virtual straight line connecting the nip portion N1 and the contact portion T1 in plan view is assumed to be a virtual line V2. In this case, the tip portion 531 of the isolation wall 53 is positioned forward of the imaginary line V2. Note that, when the platen holder 12 is in the printing position, the contact portion T2 (see FIG. 7), which is the most forward portion of the portion that contacts the printing tape 8, is positioned further forward than the imaginary line V2. Any configuration may be employed as long as it is located in the front.

A virtual straight line connecting the connection portion C1 and the contact portion T1 in plan view is assumed to be a virtual line V3. In this case, the tip portion 581 of the guide wall 58 is located behind the imaginary line V3. Note that the tip portion 531 may be configured such that the contact portion T2 is located behind the imaginary line V3 (see FIG. 7).

A discharge guide portion 49 is provided at the front left corner of the cassette case 31 . The discharge guide portion 49 is located on the front left side of the feed roller 56 and is formed in a slit shape extending in the vertical direction. The printed printing tape 8 separated from the ink ribbon 9 passes through the inside of the discharge guide section 49 when conveyed through the feed roller 56 . The ejection guide portion 49 guides the print tape 8 to the outside of the cassette case 31 .

The conveying and printing operations of the printing tape 8 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the tape cassette 30 is attached to the attachment portion 6 and the cassette cover 5 is closed, the platen holder 12 moves from the standby position to the printing position. The conveying roller 14 presses the print tape 8 by nipping it in the nip portion N1 with the feed roller 56 . The platen roller 15 enters the open portion 77, pushes the print tape 8 and the ink ribbon 9 behind the thermal head 10, sandwiches them in the nip portion N2 between them and the heating element 11, and presses them. The feed roller 56 rotates as the tape drive shaft 17 is driven, and pulls out the print tape 8 from the tape roll 40 in cooperation with the transport roller 14 . The print tape 8 is transported to the arm section 34 via the path roller 69A. On the other hand, the ribbon take-up spool 22 rotates as the ribbon take-up shaft 18 is driven, and pulls out the ink ribbon 9 from the ribbon roll 41 . The ink ribbon 9 is conveyed toward the arm portion 34 .

Inside the arm portion 34 , the print tape 8 is guided along a conveying path passing between the arm front wall 35 and the regulation wall 33 and discharged from the arm opening portion 341 to the open portion 77 . The ink ribbon 9 is guided along the winding path passing between the arm rear wall 37 and the regulation wall 33 , overlapped with the printing tape 8 , and discharged from the arm opening 341 to the opening 77 .

In the open portion 77 , one side of the printing tape 8 ejected from the arm opening 341 is exposed forward, and the other side faces the thermal head 10 via the ink ribbon 9 . The heating element 11 of the thermal head 10 transfers the ink of the ink ribbon 9 to the printing tape 8 at the nip portion N2 with the platen roller 15 to perform printing.

The ink ribbon 9 after printing is separated from the printing tape 8 by the tip 581 of the guide wall 58 . Here, the tip portion 531 of the isolation wall 53 is located behind the imaginary line V3 connecting the nip portion N2 and the contact portion T1. Therefore, the printing tape 8 is kept in contact with the ink ribbon 9 while being conveyed from the nip portion N2 to the contact portion T1. Therefore, between the nip portion N2 and the contact portion T1, the ink ribbon 9 is separated from the printing tape 8 before the ink transferred to the printing tape 8 is fixed, thereby preventing the ink from peeling off. of separation distance is ensured.

Further, the printing tape 8 is pressed forward by the front end portion 531 of the isolation wall 53 beyond the imaginary line V2 connecting the contact portion T1 and the nip portion N1. Therefore, the force of the printing tape 8 pressing the ink ribbon 9 against the tip portion 531 at the contact portion T1 is suppressed. Therefore, the ink ribbon 9 is smoothly peeled off from the printing tape 8 at the leading end 531, and is taken up by the ribbon take-up spool 22 through a take-up path passing through the left side of the guide wall 58 and the rear side of the head peripheral wall 36. .

The printed printing tape 8 passes through the nip portion N 1 between the feed roller 56 and the transport roller 14 via the leading end portion 531 of the isolation wall 53 and is transported toward the discharge guide portion 49 . The printed printing tape 8 is discharged to the outside from the discharge guide portion 49 , cut by the cutting mechanism 16 , and discharged to the outside of the tape printer 1 .

As described above, the leading end portion 581 of the guide wall 58 is arranged on the imaginary line V1 along which the printing tape 8 and the ink ribbon 9 can be conveyed during printing or on the forward side in the front-rear direction. By pressing the ink ribbon 9 forward in the front-rear direction, the tape cassette 30 reliably separates the ink ribbon 9 from the printing tape 8 by the tip portion 581 . In addition, the front end portion 531 of the isolation wall 53 is arranged on the front side in the front-rear direction of the imaginary line V2 on the downstream side of the position of the front end portion 581, and the printing tape 8 is pressed forward in the front-rear direction. , the printing tape 8 is slightly separated from the ink ribbon 9, and the force with which the printing tape 8 presses the ink ribbon 9 against the tip portion 581 is weakened. As a result, the tape cassette 30 can reduce the frictional force generated between the ink ribbon 9 and the tip portion 581 by the printing tape 8 pressing the ink ribbon 9 against the guide wall 58 . Therefore, after the characters and the like are transferred from the ink ribbon 9 to the printing tape 8, the printing tape 8 and the ink ribbon 9 can reach the guide wall 58 without being forcibly peeled off. Therefore, the tape cassette 30 can more reliably separate the ink ribbon 9 while ensuring the separation distance.

By defining the position of the leading end portion 531 of the separation wall 53 located on the front side in the front-rear direction of the imaginary line V2 on the rear side in the front-rear direction of the imaginary line V3, the tape cassette 30 allows the separation wall 53 to 8 is regulated so as not to be largely pressed forward in the front-rear direction. As a result, the printing tape 8 does not separate from the ink ribbon 9 on the upstream side of the transport path from the guide wall 58, so that the tape cassette 30 secures an appropriate peeling distance, and the ink ribbon 9 can be peeled off more reliably. can be done.

In the above embodiment, the front-rear direction corresponds to the "first direction" of the present invention. The front wall 307 corresponds to the "side wall" of the present invention. The open portion 77 corresponds to the "open portion" of the present invention. The head insertion portion 39 corresponds to the "through recess" of the present invention. The arm front wall 35 corresponds to the "first wall" of the present invention. The arm rear wall 37 corresponds to the "second wall" of the present invention. The horizontal direction corresponds to the "second direction" of the present invention. The arm opening 341 corresponds to the "discharge port" of the present invention. The feed roller 56 corresponds to the "roller" of the present invention. The tip portion 581 corresponds to the "first tip portion" of the present invention. The guide wall 58 corresponds to the "first protrusion" of the present invention. The tip portion 531 corresponds to the "second tip portion" of the present invention. The isolation wall 53 corresponds to the "second protrusion" of the present invention.

The present invention can be modified in various ways from the above embodiment. Although the tip portion 581 of the guide wall 58 is positioned forward of the imaginary line V1, it may be positioned on the imaginary line V1. In this case, the contact portion T1 should be positioned on the virtual line V1. The virtual line V1 is a virtual straight line connecting the nip portion N1 and the contact portion T1. It is good also as a virtual straight line which connects.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, roller units 50 may be provided at the tip 581 of the guide wall 58 and the tip 531 of the isolation wall 53, respectively. As shown in FIG. 9, the roller unit 50 has a roller member 502 having a shaft 501 extending vertically. The first support plate 503 has a plate-like shape extending in the vertical direction, and both ends thereof are bent to form shaft holes 503A into which the shafts 501 can be inserted. The first support plate 503 rotatably supports the shaft 501 of the roller member 502 through the shaft hole 503A. The second support plate 504 has a plate shape extending in the vertical direction and is arranged outside the first support plate 503 . Both ends of the second support plate 504 are bent to form grooves 504A into which the shafts 501 can be inserted. The second support plate 504 movably holds the shaft 501 of the roller member 502 from the outside of the first support plate 503 with the groove portion 504A. A spring 505 is arranged between the first support plate 503 and the second support plate 504 . A spring 505 biases the roller member 502 supported by the first support plate 503 in a direction away from the second support plate 504 . The roller unit 50 having such a structure is provided at the tip portions 581 and 531 of the guide wall 58 and the isolation wall 53 in such a direction that the contact portions T1 and T2 are positioned on the biasing side of the roller member 502 by the spring 505 . As a result, the tape cassette 30 can reduce the pressing force applied to the ink ribbon 9 by the printing tape 8 when the ink ribbon 9 after printing is separated from the printing tape 8 . The roller unit 50 may be provided only on one of the tip portion 581 of the guide wall 58 and the tip portion 531 of the isolation wall 53, or may be provided on both. Further, the roller unit 50 may be configured to omit the configuration of the second support plate 504 and the spring 505 and simply arrange the roller members 502 at the tip portions 581 and 531 of the guide wall 58 and the isolation wall 53 . Alternatively, a configuration in which the roller member 502 is not rotatable and the cylindrical member is simply biased by the spring 505 may be arranged at the contact portions T1 and T2.

In the modified example described above, the separating wall 53 forms the winding path together with the guide wall 58 , so that the ink ribbon 9 can be guided to the ribbon winding spool 22 . Since the isolation wall 53 is rib-shaped, it can be formed integrally with the bottom wall 306 . Further, since the leading end portion 531 is the roller member 502, the frictional force in conveying the printing tape 8 is reduced. Therefore, since the tape cassette 30 can smoothly transport the printing tape 8, the ink ribbon 9 can be peeled off more reliably while ensuring the peeling distance.

Since the guide wall 58 is rib-shaped, it can be formed integrally with the bottom wall 306 . Further, since the leading end portion 581 is the roller member 502, the frictional force in transporting the ink ribbon 9 sandwiched between the printing tape 8 and the leading end portion 581 of the guide wall 58 is reduced. Therefore, the tape cassette 30 can smoothly separate the ink ribbon 9 from the printing tape 8 while ensuring the separation distance.

Further, since the roller unit 50 has a spring 505, the position of the printing tape 8 on the conveying path is maintained at a predetermined position by an urging force. When the tensile force applied to the printing tape 8 increases, the elasticity of the printing tape 8 allows temporary positional deviation of the printing tape 8 . 581 can reduce the frictional force in conveying the ink ribbon 9 sandwiched between them. Similarly, the partition wall 53 can reduce the frictional force in transporting the printing tape 8 . Therefore, since the tape cassette 30 can smoothly transport the printing tape 8, the ink ribbon 9 can be peeled off more reliably while ensuring the peeling distance. Note that the spring 505 corresponds to the "biasing member" in this modified example.

As shown in FIG. 10, the regulation guide portion 61 is positioned between the nip portion N2 of the thermal head 10 and the contact portion T1 of the leading end portion 581 of the guide wall 58 in the transport direction of the printing tape 8. may be provided. The holding wall 59 extends in the front-rear direction and is formed in the shape of a rib that protrudes upward from the bottom wall 306 of the lower case 312 . In this case, the rear tip portion 591 of the pressing wall 59 is located behind the imaginary line V3 connecting the connection portion C1 and the contact portion T1. With this configuration, the printing tape 8 is kept in contact with the ink ribbon 9 while being conveyed from the nip portion N2 to the contact portion T3 where the leading end portion 591 of the pressing wall 59 contacts the printing tape 8. Peeling distance can be secured.

Also, in this case, the tip portion 532 (contact portion T4) of the isolation wall 53 is preferably located forward of the imaginary line V3. With this configuration, the printing tape 8 is gradually separated from the ink ribbon 9 while being conveyed from the contact portion T3 to the contact portion T4. The pressing force is suppressed. Therefore, the ink ribbon 9 can be smoothly peeled off from the printing tape 8 at the tip portion 531 . Further, in the same manner as described above, the roller unit 50 may be provided at the tip portion 591 of the pressing wall 59, or the roller unit 50 may be provided without the configuration of the second support plate 504 and the spring 505. Alternatively, a configuration in which the roller member 502 is not rotatable and the cylindrical member is simply biased by the spring 505 may be arranged at the contact portions T1 and T2.

In the modified example described above, the ink ribbon 9 is separated from the printing tape 8 at the position of the guide wall 58 . On the other hand, the printing tape 8 is pressed away from the ink ribbon 9 by the isolation wall 53 so as to move forward in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the pressing wall 59 prevents the print tape 8 from being too far forward in the front-rear direction from the ink ribbon 9 at the tip portion 591 . The leading end portion 591 is positioned closer to the arm opening portion 341 than the leading end portion 581 of the guide wall 58, that is, on the upstream side of the transport path. As a result, the tape cassette 30 secures the peeling distance necessary for the characters and the like transferred from the ink ribbon 9 to be fixed on the printing tape 8 by the distance from the position of the print head to the leading edge 591 in the transport path. In addition, the ink ribbon 9 can be peeled off more reliably.

Further, since the holding wall 59 is rib-shaped, it can be formed integrally with the bottom wall 306 . Further, since the roller unit 50 is provided at the leading end portion 591, the frictional force in conveying the printing tape 8 is reduced. Therefore, since the tape cassette 30 can smoothly transport the printing tape 8, the ink ribbon 9 can be peeled off more reliably while ensuring the peeling distance.

Further, since the roller unit 50 has a spring 505, the position of the printing tape 8 on the conveying path is maintained at a predetermined position by an urging force. When the tensile force applied to the printing tape 8 increases, the elasticity allows the printing tape 8 to be temporarily misaligned. can do. Therefore, since the tape cassette 30 can smoothly transport the printing tape 8, the ink ribbon 9 can be peeled off more reliably while ensuring the peeling distance. Note that the holding wall 59 corresponds to the "third protrusion" in this modified example. The tip portion 591 corresponds to the "third tip portion" in this modified example.

1 Tape printer 8 Printing tape 9 Ink ribbon 10 Thermal head 19 Head holder 22 Ribbon winding spool 31 Cassette case 34 Arm part 35 Arm front wall 37 Arm rear wall 39 Head insertion part 40 Tape roll 41 Ribbon roll 53 Separation wall 56 Feed Roller 58 Guide wall 59 Pressing wall 77 Opening 306 Bottom wall 307 Front wall 341 Arm opening 501 Shaft 502 Roller member 505 Springs 531, 581, 591 Tip C1 Connections N1, N2 Nip T1, T2, T3, T4 Contact Part V1, V2, V3 virtual line

Claims (9)

a cassette case having a bottom wall and side walls intersecting the bottom wall on one side in a first direction;
a tape roll that is housed in the cassette case and on which a printing tape that is a medium to be printed is wound;
a ribbon roll housed in the cassette case and wound with an ink ribbon used for printing on the printing tape;
a ribbon winding spool housed in the cassette case for winding the ink ribbon;
a penetrating recess that has an open portion in a part of the side wall and is recessed toward the other side in the first direction and vertically penetrates the cassette case;
It has a first wall portion that is part of the side wall, and a second wall portion that faces the first wall portion and extends upward from the bottom wall. extending from an edge portion on one side of a second direction intersecting the direction and the vertical direction to the other side of the second direction, and at an end portion on one side of the second direction, the first wall portion and the second wall an arm portion having a discharge port for discharging the printing tape and the ink ribbon conveyed between the unit;
provided on one side of the cassette case in the second direction relative to the arm portion, a part of the outer peripheral surface of the cassette case is exposed on one side of the cassette case in the first direction, and is ejected from the ejection port to the outer peripheral surface of the arm portion; a roller that guides the printing tape contacting the exposed portion to one side in the second direction relative to the cassette case;
A first tip protruding toward one side in the first direction is provided at a position between the discharge port of the arm portion and the roller in the transport path of the printing tape, and the second wall portion and the Located on a first imaginary line connecting a connection portion with the through recess and an exposed portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roller or on one side of the first imaginary line in the first direction, the discharge port along the conveying path. a first protrusion that guides the ink ribbon discharged from the first end portion from the conveying path to a winding path toward the ribbon winding spool;
At a position between the first protrusion and the roller in the second direction, a second tip portion is provided so as to protrude toward one side in the first direction, and the exposed portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roller and the Positioned on one side in the first direction with respect to a second imaginary line connecting the position of the first tip of the first projection, the printing tape ejected from the ejection port is passed through the second tip. and a second protrusion that guides the roller. The tape cassette is attachable to and detachable from a tape printer having a head holder having a print head,
The through recess is a portion into which the head holder is inserted when the tape cassette is mounted on the tape printer,
The second tip of the second protrusion is a third imaginary point connecting the position of the print head when the head holder is inserted into the through recess and the position of the first tip of the first protrusion. 2. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the tape cassette is located on the other side of the first direction from the line. The second protrusion extends upward from the bottom wall and has a rib shape that forms the winding path between the first protrusion and the second protrusion,
3. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein said second end portion is a roller member having an axis extending in said vertical direction. 3. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the second protrusion is a biasing member that is biased toward one side in the first direction and presses the printing tape. The tape cassette is attachable to and detachable from a tape printer having a head holder having a print head,
The through recess is a portion into which the head holder is inserted when the tape cassette is mounted on the tape printer,
In the transport path of the printing tape, at a position between the position of the print head when the head holder is inserted into the through recess and the first tip of the first protrusion, the first direction A third tip portion is provided protruding toward the other side, and abuts on the printing tape conveyed between the discharge port and the second tip portion of the second protrusion, and the third tip portion of the printing tape is provided. 2. The tape cassette according to claim 1, further comprising a third protrusion that restricts movement in one direction. The third protrusion is a rib-like extending upward from the bottom wall,
6. The tape cassette according to claim 5, wherein said third end portion is a roller member having an axis extending in said vertical direction. 6. The tape cassette according to claim 5, wherein the third protrusion is a biasing member that is biased toward the other side in the first direction and presses the printing tape. The first projection is a rib-like extending upward from the bottom wall,
8. The tape cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said first end portion is a roller member having an axis extending in said vertical direction. 8. The tape according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first protrusion is a biasing member that is biased toward one side in the first direction and presses the ink ribbon and the printing tape. cassette.

Images